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Old 11-25-2010, 10:17 PM   #26 (permalink)
TomEV
Ford Escort 2.0
 
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Alameda, CA
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Electricar - '89 Ford Escort LX Hatchback
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bennelson View Post
What is required to rectify the AC to DC? What voltage DC do you get from 115V AC?
On 96 volt cars, some people use a 'bad boy' charger - essentially 120 volts rectified to DC with a bridge rectifier set. The finished charging voltage of a 96v lead acid pack is just over 120 volts.

Depending on who you talk to, this type of charging works great, or is too dangerous to consider. That being said, it is probably the cheapest kind of charging around.

Here is a link to a 'safer' bad boy -

Bonn Charger

In most cases, the resistance of the extension cord provides enough 'current limiting', but the farther the pack is depleted, the more amps it will try to draw. Cords get warm enough to melt snow (from pictures I've seen - no snow here!). Sometimes cheaper quality extension cords will melt as well.

For a 72 volt system, the finished voltage is just over 90 volts, so this kind of charger won't work.
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